Joker (Batman 1966 TV Series) | DC Database | Fandom powered by Wikia Joker (Batman 1966 TV Series) 97,730pages on History Overview The Joker was a criminal from Gotham City, an intelligent, persistent and dangerous nemesis of Batman and Robin . Early Life Not much is known about the Joker's early life. On one occasion, he was implied to have been a high school dropout. In addition, Batman once noted that he was a well-known hypnotist before he turned to a life of crime. Criminal Career Intelligent and creative, yet totally amoral, the Joker engaged in a wide variety of crimes throughout his life and clashed with Gotham's law enforcement - especially Batman and Robin - on numerous occasions. As a career criminal, the Joker was no stranger to incarceration within Gotham State Penitentiary. Though he made daring escapes from the institution on several occasions, and managed to get lawfully released from it on several others by feigning reformation, he would always find himself returned to its confines by Batman and Robin.

(This was in keeping with his well-documented expertise, in the comics, in jailbreaks.) Utility Belt Caper One of the Joker's earliest crime sprees began with an ingenious escape from Gotham State Penitentiary, facilitated during a softball game in the penitentiary's exercise yard. Once free, the Clown Prince of Crime immediately set out to rob Gotham Museum of its new jewel collection, but was quickly foiled by Batman and Robin, and barely managed to evade capture. Attributing this defeat to Batman's gadget-laden utility belt, the Joker decided to create a utility belt of his own. The belt - and the gadgets that it contained - soon proved a wise investment for the Harlequin of Hate. The Joker's next two heists - at a performance of the opera I Pagliacci and at a warehouse storing valuable African masks - saw him hold his own against Batman and Robin before making clean getaways. In the former case, the Joker even came within a hair's breadth of unmasking the duo. Soon, public confidence in Batman and Robin plunged, and crime rates soared across Gotham City. Drunk on victory, the Joker sought to finish off the Dynamic Duo at the launch ceremony of the S.S.

Gotham, where Batman was to perform the ceremonial champagne-smashing. The Clown Prince of Crime tampered with the vintage champagne bottle to be used in the ceremony, leaving a bottle that would release paralyzing gas when smashed. On the day of the launch, the Joker's plan went off without a hitch: the gimmicked bottle soon (apparently) rendered both heroes helpless, and the Joker and his gang were able to swoop in and kidnap the Dynamic Duo. A gleeful Joker brought the (seemingly) paralyzed heroes back to his hideout and eagerly televised his victory, threatening to have the heroes executed unless his demands were met. Soon after, however, he was treated to a rude surprise: the Dynamic Duo were up and about, having caught on to the Joker's ruse shortly after they had been handed the bottle--Batman had noticed that the the new bottle's cork was not discolored with age, as that of a true vintage bottle would have been. Knowing this, the heroes had taken antidote pills before smashing the bottle, and had been faking helplessness the entire time. The heroes then quickly defeated the Joker and his men, and returned them to the penitentiary.

Back to School Some time after the utility belt caper, the Joker was released from the penitentiary, but quickly returned to his old ways. The Harlequin of Hate soon created a series of remote-controlled gadgets to carry out his schemes with. Among these gadgets were several vending machines rigged to deposit money, which the Joker planted inside Woodrow Roosevelt High School, as part of a gambit to tempt students into joining his gang with promises of easy wealth. The other machines, meanwhile, were stationed inside various businesses across Gotham, and assisted the Joker's men in committing ordinary robberies. The Joker's antics soon attracted attention from Batman and Robin - attention that the Harlequin of Hate openly encouraged, to the point where he openly attended an anti-crime lecture being given by Batman at Woodrow Roosevelt. Soon enough, the arch-criminal's promises of easy living snared one of Woodrow Roosevelt's most prominent students: Susie, the school's cheerleader captain. With Susie's help, the Joker was able to successfully carry out the next stage of his plan - stealing the answer key to the Nationwide Pre-College Exam.

As a pleasant bonus, Susie even earned the confidence of Batman and Robin, whom she quickly lured into the Joker's latest deathtrap. A sudden blackout, however, foiled the Joker's deathtrap (two electric chairs rigged to a one-armed bandit and designed to electrocute the two if the machine turned up three lemons, which it did) seconds before it could slay the Dynamic Duo. Frustrated, but left with no other options, the Joker was forced to flee, and Batman and Robin resumed their investigation. Shortly afterward, the lawmen pinpointed Susie as one of the members of the Joker's gang, and Robin - in his civilian guise of Dick Grayson - attempted to infiltrate the Joker's gang through the cheeerleader. The rest of the Joker's gang, however, quickly saw through the ruse and informed the Clown Prince of Crime. Upon learning of the incident, the Joker deemed Susie a weak link in his gang, and sought to dispose of the cheerleader by giving her a "gift" of perfume that had secretly been poisoned. Batman and Robin, meanwhile, were fed a false lead that led them to another of the Joker's traps.

Confident that he had neutralized every potential liability, the Joker went on with the final stage of his plan. The Harlequin of Hate tricked Woodrow Roosevelt's basketball team into picking up his stolen answer key, and promptly snapped an incriminating photograph of the scene. With the picture, the Joker intended to frame the team as cheaters, and get Woodrow Roosevelt disqualified from an upcoming game. In doing so, the Joker hoped to hand victory to the opposing school, as he was gambling a large sum of money (through a bookmaker nicknamed "Pete The Swede") on Woodrow Roosevelt losing. Unfortunately for the Joker, Batman and Robin intervened, having outwitted his trap and saved Susie from the poisoned perfume; out of gratitude for saving her life, the duo revealed, Susie had testified to the Joker's scam. His plans scuttled, the Joker attempted to flee, but was apprehended once more. A Royal Deception An unspecified amount of time after the Woodrow Roosevelt caper, the Joker returned to menace Gotham City once more.

This time, the Clown Prince of Crime committed a series of bizarre robberies, "stealing" a hole from the golf course at a prominent country club and holding up a fur salon for the sole purpose of stealing a woman's hairpin. With his "loot," the Joker managed to stage a much more impressive crime: kidnapping Gotham City's latest visiting royalty, the Maharaja of Nimpah. During the kidnapping, Batman and Robin, having deduced the Joker's intentions from the customary taunting message delivered to police headquarters, arrived on the scene. The Dynamic Duo quickly pursued the Joker and his men, but were soon foiled when the Joker's getaway van, which was covered in folding mirrors to enable it to blend completely into the background, seemingly vanished into thin air. (The van was marked as belonging to "Gayfellow Cleaners Services," and bore the slogan, "Let Gayfellow take you to the Cleaners.") Though baffled, Batman and Robin eventually found another of the Joker's deliberately-planted clues at the scene of the crime: a tiny model of the getaway van. The model contained a written note from the Joker, from which the Dynamic Duo managed to deduce the location the Joker's latest hideout.

Upon rushing into the hideout, however, the lawmen soon found themselves falling into another one of the Joker's traps, and were quickly captured by the Joker's men. The Joker promptly sealed his adversaries inside an airtight chamber, into which he poured generous quantities of poison gas. By placing their backs together and scaling up the chimney's walls, the two were fortunately able to avoid the rising toxic clouds, and a flabbergasted Joker realized far too late that they had managed to outwit him. Escaping the roof via a nearby zip-line, Batman and Robin then paid a visit in their civilian identities to the Ferguson Novelty and Magician Supply Company, which they had carefully sussed out was a front operation for the devious trickster's schemes; sure enough, as Bruce discovered by cleverly refracting the shop's two-way mirror with a special prism, the Maharaja was there, being held captive in the basement storeroom.

Returning that night after their reconnaissance, the Dynamic Duo surprised the Joker and his men, but were impeded when the Joker set off his "Defense Panel" switch to "repel the invaders." Under cover of fireworks and paper streamers, the Joker escaped in the ensuing fight, and the Maharaja was nowhere to be found. His foes neutralized for the moment, the Joker promptly rang the Commissioner's office, where he delivered his ransom demands to the Caped Crusader through a phone relay: half a million dollars, which the Maharaja himself had offered to pay with a personal check...and which Batman had to sign off on the next morning, or else the deal was kaput. Loath though he was to participate in such a malevolent scheme, Batman reluctantly acquiesced for the sake of the rotund royal's well-being, and the two met the next day at the bank to initiate the trade. As the Maharaja rambled on, money in hand, Batman carefully drew a long dart and stuck it deep into the pompous pest's leg, exposing his fat as mere padding.

Tearing away the sawdust and pillows beneath his robes in the sudden brawl, the duo exposed the Maharaja as none other than the Joker in costume - he had impersonated the other man the entire time, hoping to gain both a hefty sum of money and Batman's humiliation in the bargain. Batman had been suspicious that there had not been any protests of the Maharaja's kidnapping from the Nimpah government, and, presumably as Bruce Wayne, he had made a phone call to Nimpah - only to discover that the real Maharaja had actually been away on a hunting trip. Deflated in more ways than one, the crooked clown was quickly re-imprisoned. Powers and Abilities Abilities Hand-to-Hand Combat (Basic) : The Joker was adequate in hand-to-hand combat for a man of his size. Though he was seldom a match for Batman and Robin in a fair fight, he was incredibly resourceful in combat and certainly not above resorting to sneak attacks and other tricks. Genius Level Intellect : The Joker's intellect more than made up for his combat skills (or lack thereof).

Science Gadgetry : A genius in several branches of science, the Joker invented dozens of complex gadgets over the course of his career, including a formula that could turn all water into jelly and an entire army of robots duplicating the appearance of ordinary citizens. Paraphernalia Equipment Smoke-Bomb Softball: Specially-designed softball that exploded into smoke when struck. Used to in conjunction with the giant spring to concoct an escape from the Gotham State Penitentiary. Gigantic Spring: Coiled spring secretly built in Gotham State Penitentiary's machine shop; hidden beneath the softball pitcher's mound in the penitentiary's exercise yard. Activated once the smoke-bomb softball went off, springing the Joker over the penitentiary's walls. Comedian Statues: Specially-rigged busts of the Joker himself and four legendary comedians ( Oliver Hardy , Stan Laurel , Ernie Kovacs , and W.C. Fields ) planted in Gotham Museum's Comedian Hall of Fame. These busts (complete with pedestals) could hide full-grown men inside, allowing the Joker and four of his henchmen to bypass the museum's security.

Utility Belt: Meant to mimic Batman's utility belt; contained several pouches that stored the Joker's own set of gadgets. Smoke Bomb Replica Utility Belt Paralyzing Gas Cork Trick Streamers: Ordinary-looking but unbreakable party streamers, usually deployed during battle to tie up enemies. Tend to be hidden up the Joker's sleeves. Sneezing Powder: Typical prank item that induced uncontrollable sneezing. Tended to be thrown in opponents' faces during battles as a distraction tactic. Rigged Vending Machines: Vending machines gimmicked to dispensed coins and valuable stocks & bonds instead of refreshments. Positioned inside Woodrow Roosevelt High School as a way of undermining student morale. Shackle-Dispensing Vending Machine: A vending machine meant to entrap Batman and Robin. Shot out shackles when a coin was inserted, cuffing the captive's legs to the machine. A hidden nozzle at the top sprayed knockout gas, sealing the captive's fate. Squirting Flower: Fake flower attached to the top buttonhole of the Joker's jacket; connected to a hose that allowed it to squirt water, knockout gas, etc.

One Endless Night: A half-pint bottle of - according to the Joker - high-grade Canadian perfume. Its contents were laced with poison, as it was meant to discreetly execute Susie the cheerleader. Funny Ray: A remote control-like device that emits a ray which - according to the Joker - will neutralize the gadgets in Batman's and Robin's utility belts for at least an hour. Transportation "John Doe & Sons" Moving Van: A special van designed to hold captives in the Electric Chair/Fruit Machine Combo deathtrap. To power the deathtrap, it has a line that could be connected directly to Gotham City's power main. The van's dashboard also contains a trick microphone that allows the Joker to disguise his voice when speaking to captives. "Gayfellow Cleaners" Van: A van that has its exteriors outfitted with folding mirrors. When on a monochrome environment (such as a golf course), the mirrors can be deployed to cover the van with reflections of the surroundings, turning the van invisible.

Jokermobile Flying Saucer It should be noted that one weapon the Joker did NOT use on the series was his most famous one from the comics, his infamous Joker Venom, which kills its victims by making them literally die laughing and leaves their corpses with rictus grins. Weapons Hand Buzzer : Typical prank item hidden in the palm of the Joker's glove. Allowed him to stun others with a simple handshake. (Also employed by his Burtonverse counterpart, but to electrocute people and actually burn their corpses.) Rigged Jukebox: A jukebox containing a double-barreled shotgun mounted on a turret, planted inside a Gotham bistro and operated via remote control from the Joker's hideout. Inserting a coin caused the turret to reveal itself and sweep the gun back and forth, intimidating bystanders so a robbery could be conducted. Also contained a speaker for the Joker to taunt his victims through. Death Traps Electric Chair Fruit Machine Combo : A pair of electric chairs connected to a slot machine. It dispensed fifty thousand volts of electricity into the bodies of the victim(s) when all three reels on the machine landed on the "Lemon" symbol.

Drowning Chamber: A re-purposed smokestack from the Katz, Katz, & Katz Refinery. Once the victims are locked inside, deadly gas is pumped into the confined space. The walls are almost perfectly smooth, without footholds of any sort; the only opening is fifty feet above the base. Notes This version of the character is exclusive to the continuity of the television series Batman and is an adaptation of the Joker . The original character was created by Jerry Robinson , Bob Kane , and Bill Finger and first appeared in Batman #1 . Behind the Scenes This incarnation of the Joker was portrayed by Cesar Romero , an American actor of Cuban-Italian descent. Prior to Batman, Romero had performed - as a dancer as well as an actor - for thirty-odd years, most famously as "Latin Lover"-type characters in a variety of films, as well as Duke Santos in the original Ocean's Eleven . Though Romero was nearly sixty at the time he was offered the role of the Joker, he infused the role with a powerful enthusiasm. Adam West , who played Batman, would later note, "Cesar Romero brought an enormous amount of energy to the role.

His piercing eyes, his laugh...I dunno how he did it, because he wasn't 22!"[ citation needed ] Romero, rather (in)famously, refused to shave his mustache for the role of the Joker, even though the character had always been (and still is) portrayed as clean-shaven in the comics. As a result, the makeup that Romero wore to imitate the Joker's chalk-white skin tone was applied directly over the mustache, leaving the mustache partially visible during filming.[ citation needed ] Though Romero wore a green wig to mimic the Joker's traditional hair color, the lighting on the show's sets often resulted in the Joker's hair appearing other colors - orange, yellow, etc. - when filmed. Romero would later go on to state that the wig bothered him more than any other part of the Joker's costume, as it was glued to his forehead and tended to give him headaches.[ citation needed ] According to the notes of series producer William Dozier , Romero was not the first choice for portraying the Joker; several other actors, including José Ferrer and Gig Young , had been considered.

Romero himself was perplexed as to why he was considered for the role, commenting, "Why Dozier wanted me I'll never know." Dozier's wife Ann, according to Romero, believed that Dozier had been inspired by one of Romero's previous roles.[ citation needed ] Legacy The 1966 Batman series's incarnation of the Joker marked the first time that the character was depicted in non-comics media, setting a standard for future depictions of the Clown Prince of Crime, especially where live-action works were concerned. (It is believed to have been Ben Nye Sr., a 20th Century Fox Television in-house manipulative cosmetologist, who designed the makeup format he used on Romero for the Joker.) Romero's seemingly-boundless energy, shrieking laugh, and many creative deathtraps left a powerful impression on many audiences at the time, and continues to be remembered fondly even today, decades after the series had ended.

Even the mustache that remained so conspicuously visible on Romero's face during Batman's filming has achieved a certain level of fame, becoming accepted by many as the most recognizable element of this particular incarnation of the Joker.[ citation needed ] Trivia According to a slide in the episode "The Joker Goes to School", the Joker stands 6'6". In real life, Romero stood 6'2". The Joker appeared in nineteen episodes of Batman (in addition to the theatrical film), tying with the Penguin for most commonly-appearing villain on the show. Related TV Batman Adam West is quite a joker FacebookEmail Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest TV Batman Adam West is quite a joker SAN DIEGO – Holy humor, Batman! The Caped Crusader is a funny guy. At least Adam West is. Asked if he misses the iconic cape and costume from the comic 1960s TV series, the actor whose name is synonymous with Post to Facebook TV Batman Adam West is quite a joker SAN DIEGO – Holy humor, Batman! The Caped Crusader is a funny guy. At least Adam West is.

Asked if he misses the iconic cape and costume from the comic 1960s TV series, the actor whose name is synonymous with Check out this story on USATODAY.com: CancelSend A link has been sent to your friend's email address. Posted! A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. 3 To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs TV Batman Adam West is quite a joker Bill Keveney , USA TODAY Published 5:39 p.m. ET July 24, 2014 | Updated 11:26 a.m. ET July 25, 2014 CLOSE x Share TV Batman Adam West talks about his sometimes criticized portrayal of the caped crusader, plus a costar that left him feeling some kind of way. VPC Adam West portrayed Batman on the iconic '60s TV series. The show is finally making it's way to DVD/BlueRay. (Photo: Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY) SAN DIEGO – Holy humor, Batman! The Caped Crusader is a funny guy. At least Adam West is.

Asked if he misses the cape and costume from his tongue-in-cheek 1960s TV series, the actor whose name is synonymous with Batman for baby boomers shifts his authoritative baritone, sounding like a self-serious mentor talking to "old chum" Robin. "Some nights, I wear my cape and I go out on the pier," he says, pausing each few words for effect. "It is foggy … I look for … Riddler." West, 85, who also played Batman's alter ego, Bruce Wayne, is in San Diego Thursday to promote the Nov. 11 release of Batman: The Complete Television Series. The long-awaited DVD/Blu-Ray edition, held up for years reportedly because of rights issues, includes all 120 episodes of the 1966-68 ABC series, which burned brightly but quickly over its three-season run. "The new movies have so much talent and expertise and production values, but our little TV show and our earlier movie go on and on," he says during an interview before a Comic-Con panel with Burt Ward, who played Robin, and Julie Newmar, who played Catwoman. "We're not grotesque in any way.

We're maybe bizarre and zany. We have the splash, the adventure, the costumes (and) the crazy villains for the kids and the adults enjoy the satire." Although the series was popular and has spawned a recent comic-book series, Batman '66, West's lighter take on the Dark Knight, in stark contrast to later dramatic portrayals, hasn't always been embraced. "When I started in that first pilot with Frank Gorshin as Riddler, I got quite a bit of criticism," he says. "They wanted the character more Lone Ranger, but my sensibility told me that if I played it with a kind of twinkle, looser and in a more bizarre, funny way, that it might have some longevity. And maybe I was right. It looks pretty good now." West has many favorite guest villains from the '60s series. "No. 1 was Frank Gorshin as Riddler, because Frank always played with manic intensity and it was good to play off," he says. "Burgess Meredith (as The Penguin), Cesar Romero (as The Joker). My God, they were good.

They were high-energy, prepared and they always brought something fresh." Asked about Newmar, he says, "I didn't want to talk about Julie, because I get curious stirrings in my utility belt." West, so associated with Batman, is iconic in his own right, too, voicing the character of Adam West on such animated series as Family Guy and The Fairly OddParents. "I really don't think much about (iconic status). I just try to do it to make people happy and to make them laugh. It's a wonderful thing for me," he says. Although West has received many benefits from his association with the DC Comics hero, he suffered the actor's scourge: typecasting. "When you run around in a funny costume and fight crime 24/7, some old-guard producers think, 'That's just natural and that's what he does always.' But they're forgetting that now," says the actor, who says he has been busy with projects, including Family Guy and a Warner Bros. venture that he can't discuss in detail. West is proud of the iconic Batman character, which Ben Affleck will play in an upcoming film, but actually wearing the cape and cowl posed challenges. "The costume was uncomfortable.

The cowl was very tight and I couldn't see down and around, but you deal with those things. They paid me well," he says. "You make the costume work for you. Ben Affleck, if you're (reading), make the costume work for you!" 6001 CONNECT TWEET LINKEDIN 3 COMMENTEMAILMORE Read or Share this story: NEVER MISS OUT Life Be a pop culture maven. Get the news, reviews and the juiciest celebrity stories that keep you in the know, Monday-Friday. A Visual Guide to All 37 Villains in the 'Batman' TV Series | Mental Floss A Visual Guide to All 37 Villains in the 'Batman' TV Series Here they all are with a little extra Bam! Pow! Zap! for good measure. 1.

THE RIDDLER (FRANK GORSHIN) SEASON 1 (EPISODES 1, 2, 11, 12, 23, 24, 31, 32), SEASON 3 (EPISODE 2) The quintessential (and first) Batman villain to star in the ’66 series, Frank Gorshin would end up playing The Riddler in all of the character’s appearances in the series except for a two episode span during season two when John Astin stepped into the green tights. 2. THE RIDDLER (JOHN ASTIN) SEASON 2 (EPISODES 45, 46) Perhaps best known for playing Gomez Addams in ABC’s 1964 TV series The Addams Family, John Astin donned The Riddler’s costume for a short two-episode arc during Batman’s second season. 3.

THE PENGUIN (BURGESS MEREDITH) SEASON 1 (EPISODES 3, 4, 21, 22, 33, 34), SEASON 2 (EPISODES 17, 18, 27, 28, 37, 38, 39, 42, 43, 44), SEASON 3 (EPISODES 1, 4, 5, 20) Burgess Meredith’s portrayal of The Penguin may be the most iconic (at least in appearance) of the entire series. With his purple top hat, monocle, and long cigarette, Meredith’s Penguin would appear in more Batman episodes (20) than any other villain. 4.

THE JOKER (CESAR ROMERO) SEASON 1 (EPISODES 5, 6, 15, 16, 25, 26), SEASON 2 (EPISODES 21, 22, 37, 38, 39, 47, 48, 57, 58), SEASON 3 (EPISODES 10, 16, 17, 24) Second only to Burgess Meredith as The Penguin, Cesar Romero appears in Batman as The Joker in 19 episodes in total. Known for his bright green hair, stark white makeup, and wide smile, Romero’s Joker would become one of the show’s most memorable villains. The actor famously refused to shave his signature mustache and you can see it under the white face paint particularly well on the high-definition transfers included on this Blu-ray box set. 5. MR. FREEZE (GEORGE SANDERS) SEASON 1 (EPISODES 7, 8) Appearing as Mr. Freeze for only two episodes during the show’s first season, George Sander’s Mr.

Freeze is quite low tech compared to the getups that Otto Preminger and Eli Wallach would wear during season two. When he does eventually don his signature suit, Sanders looks more like an astronaut than a villain with super freezy powers. 6. MR. FREEZE (OTTO PREMINGER) SEASON 2 (EPISODES 19, 20) Legendary, groundbreaking director Otto Preminger (Laura) took over the role of Mr. Freeze for two episodes during Batman’s second season and gives perhaps the most bizarre (and cool) performance of the three actors that would play the character. 7. MR. FREEZE (ELI WALLACH) SEASON 2 (EPISODES 59, 60) Eli Wallach (who passed away in June 2014 at the age of 98) played the frigid villain for the final two episodes of season two. His Mr. Freeze, who discovers an instant ice formula, is easily the most mustache-twirlingly and villainous of the three versions. It is also likely to be the most memorable. 8.

ZELDA THE GREAT (ANNE BAXTER) SEASON 1 (EPISODES 9, 10) The great Anne Baxter (All About Eve, The Razor’s Edge, The Ten Commandments) plays Zelda the Great in a two-episode arc that includes the kidnapping of poor Aunt Harriet. This isn’t, however, the last time fans would see Baxter on the series... 9. MAD HATTER (DAVID WAYNE) SEASON 1 (EPISODES 13, 14), SEASON 2 (EPISODES 35, 36) Screen and stage veteran David Wayne plays The Mad Hatter in four episodes spread over two seasons of Batman. The villain, obsessed with getting his hands on Batman’s cowl, conceals a Super Instant Mesmerizer in one of his many hats in an attempt to get the job done. The Dynamic Duo, of course, has other plans. 10.

FALSE FACE (MALACHI THRONE) SEASON 1 (EPISODES 17, 18) Malachi Throne was a staple of geek TV throughout his career: He made appearances in Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Lost in Space, The Six Million Dollar Man, Babylon 5, and many more nerd-centric shows. We don’t even really get to see his recognizable face in Batman, however, as he plays a villain named False Face, who looks different nearly every time we see him. 11. CATWOMAN (JULIE NEWMAR) SEASON 1 (EPISODES 19, 20), SEASON 2 (EPISODES 3, 4, 10, 29, 30, 33, 34, 40, 41, 49, 50) Appearing in 13 Batman episodes over the show’s first two seasons, Julie Newmar’s Catwoman tussles with The Dynamic Duo more than any other female villain in the series.

Not only did her appearance on the show make her the object of many a young man's affections, but it also helped establish the general look of the character on screen for years to come. 12. CATWOMAN (EARTHA KITT) SEASON 3 (EPISODES 14, 16, 17) Julie Newmar left some mighty big paws to fill when she didn’t return to the role of Catwoman for Batman’s third season. But, if you’re going to try to fill them, you might as well do it with a legend like Eartha Kitt. The singer, actress, and all-around dynamo donned the cat suit and purred her way into the hearts of Batman fans everywhere. I don’t know about you, but we can’t help but think of Catwoman every time we hear “Santa Baby” (which Kitt famously recorded) come on the radio during the holiday season. Lee Meriwether played Catwoman in the 1966 movie . 13.

KING TUT (VICTOR BUONO) SEASON 1 (EPISODES 27, 28), SEASON 2 (7, 8, 53, 54), SEASON 3 (6, 23) Ever the performer, Victor Buono’s over-the-top performance as Batman original villain King Tut earned him appearances in eight separate episodes over the show’s three seasons. The actor reportedly loved playing the character because it allowed him the opportunity to overact, one of the aspects of the character that makes King Tut so beloved (and if there’s ever a place to overact, the Batman series seems like a great place to do it). 14. BOOKWORM (RODDY MCDOWALL) SEASON 1 (EPISODES 29, 30) Between film, TV, and theater, Planet of the Apes star Roddy McDowall’s resume is a mile long—so it should come as no surprise that he was able to sneak in two episodes as an original villain named Bookworm on Batman. Committing crimes inspired by literary works, Bookworm was created for the show, but would later come to figure in the Batman comic books as well.

15. THE ARCHER (ART CARNEY) SEASON 2 (EPISODES 1, 2) Once you realize that The Honeymooners veteran Art Carney is playing Batman villain The Archer in the first two episodes of the show’s second season, you should immediately know that the character is mostly going to be played for laughs. Based on the classic Robin Hood character, The Archer does his own brand of robbing the rich to feed the poor along with two henchmen (and one henchwoman) cleverly named Maid Marilyn, Big John, and Crier Tuck. 16. MINSTREL (VAN JOHNSON) SEASON 2 (EPISODES 5,6) Minstrel only appears in two season-two Batman episodes, but he’s a tough one to forget because Van Johnson’s performance is so mesmerizing. The villain is about as milquetoast as one gets—he abhors violence and sings songs about the crimes he’s committed (or is about to commit)—but it’s still hard to get Minstrel out of your head. 17.

MA PARKER (SHELLEY WINTERS) SEASON 2 (EPISODES 9, 10) Season two villain Ma Parker is all about Shelley Winters' hilariously evil performance. Full of bravado and a pun a minute, the character is a simple country mother who has an affinity for powerful guns. Along with her three sons Pretty Boy Parker, Machine Gun Parker, and Mad Dog Parker, and one daughter named Legs Parker (that Ma really can’t stand), they give The Dynamic Duo a run for their money. 18. CLOCK KING (WALTER SLEZAK) SEASON 2 (EPISODES 11, 12) Tony Award-winning actor Walter Slezak suits up as Clock King for two season-two episodes of Batman using an antique clock to loot a jewelry store before Batman and Robin are on his tail. Though Clock King actually has pretty deep roots in the DC Comics universe, this version is a wonder all its own with Slezak’s trademark expressions and villainy leading the way. Oh, and one really big hourglass. 19.

EGGHEAD (VINCENT PRICE) SEASON 2 (EPISODES 13, 14), SEASON 3 (EPISODES 8, 9, 15) It’s hard not to love Vincent Price’s hilariously campy portrayal of Egghead during five episodes in Batman’s run. With his signature white and yellow suit and enormous bald head, Price overacts to perfection as the extremely intelligent, eggcentric (get it?) villain. The character has a lair decked out with bacon and egg drawings on the wall and tosses laughing and tear gas eggs at his foes. Egghead is, quite possibly, the most lovable of all Batman villains. 20. CHANDELL (LIBERACE) SEASON 2 (EPISODES 15, 16) For two episodes, the piano virtuoso plays both Chandell (the piano player) and his twin brother Harry (who, it turns out, is the real villain here), and the results are a lot of fun. If only we could have seen Liberace play more villains throughout his career, TV would have been a far more interesting place. 21.

MARSHA, QUEEN OF DIAMONDS (CAROLYN JONES) SEASON 2 (EPISODES 23, 24, 42, 43, 44) Here’s a bit of cool trivia for you: Carolyn Jones, who plays the diamond-loving villainess Marsha, Queen of Diamonds in five season-two Batman episodes, also played Morticia Addams in ABC’s The Addams Family. We already told you about John Astin’s connection to that series, but there’s also a brief appearance by Ted Cassidy (who played Lurch in that show) during one of Batman’s iconic Batclimbs. How’s that for synergy! 22. SHAME (CLIFF ROBERTSON) SEASON 2 (EPISODES 25, 26), SEASON 3 (EPISODES 21, 22) Clearly a spoof of the classic 1953 Western movie character Shane (from the movie of the same name), Cliff Robertson’s villain Shame appears in four Batman episodes with two different posses.

In the first, he’s joined by Okie Annie (Joan Staley)—an obvious riff on Annie Oakley—and, in the second, he’s got Calamity Jan (Dina Merrill) by his side. 23. PUZZLER (MAURICE EVANS) SEASON 2 (EPISODES 31, 32) Not to be confused with The Riddler, Maurice Evans as Puzzler also likes to keep Batman and Robin confused with his clever puzzles, word games, and tricks. He’s often seen reciting Shakespeare and has a thing for aviation. According to Wikia , Puzzler’s appearance only came about because Frank Gorshin no longer wanted to play The Riddler during season two, so the show slotted Puzzler into these two episodes instead. Of course, John Astin would play The Riddler later in season two and Gorshin would return to the green tights in season three. 24.

SANDMAN (MICHAEL RENNIE) SEASON 2 (EPISODES 33, 34) Portrayed by veteran actor Michael Rennie, Sandman’s two-episode appearance during Batman’s second season is often overshadowed by the fact that he’s working alongside the beautiful Julie Newmar as Catwoman. But fans should give the shifty Dr. Somnambular his due—the guy does have sleep powers after all! 25. COLONEL GUMM (ROGER C. CARMEL) SEASON 2 (EPISODES 51, 52) Roger C. Carmel’s performance as Colonel Gumm is mostly remembered for the villain’s penchant for wearing pink, being surround by pink, and being obsessed with stamps. The real memorable thing about Colonel Gumm’s two-episode arc, however, is the fact that the episodes feature crossover appearances by Green Hornet (Van Williams) and Kato (Bruce Lee). 26.

BLACK WIDOW (TALLULAH BANKHEAD) SEASON 2 (EPISODES 55, 56) The most tragic thing about the great Tallulah Bankhead’s fantastic performance as season two villainess Black Widow in Batman is the fact that this would be her final on-screen role. Decked out in her signature black and red outfits, the character is unforgettable, whether it’s stealing from a bank or hanging out in her stunning spider-themed lair. 27. SIREN (JOAN COLLINS) SEASON 3 (EPISODES 2, 3) Siren, played by Joan Collins, begins her entrance into the world of Batman as a bit of a sidekick in The Riddler’s devious plan to take over Gotham City’s boxing game. By her second episode, however, the singing Siren makes a plan to uncover Batman’s true identity all by herself. Memorable for her beauty, luxurious outfits, and her ability to mesmerize men with her high-octave tunes, Siren makes an indelible mark on the series in the span of only two episodes. 28.

LOLA LASAGNE (ETHEL MERMAN) SEASON 3 (EPISODES 4, 5) Despite the charming and talented Ethel Merman’s performance, Lola Lasagne is one of Batman’s least interesting and memorable villains. For one, her weapon of choice is the parasol. Secondly, she mostly plays in the shadows of one of the show’s most memorable villains, The Penguin. If it weren’t for Ethel Merman, we might not remember Lola at all. 29. LOUIE THE LILAC (MILTON BERLE) SEASON 3 (EPISODES 7, 18) Louie the Lilac, on the other hand, makes a huge mark on Batman by being such a bright, colorful character (with such a recognizable face behind it) that two episodes are more than enough to make fans remember him. There’s a whole lot of Milton Berle himself in Louie’s demeanor, even down to the actor’s signature cigar, which is part of what makes the character (created specifically for the show) work. Louie the Lilac also went on to appear in five episodes of the animated series Batman: The Brave and the Bold. 30.

OLGA, QUEEN OF THE COSSACKS (ANNE BAXTER) SEASON 3 (EPISODES 8, 15) Remember how we told you that Zelda the Great would not be the last you’d see of Anne Baxter in Batman? That’s because she’s the show’s only guest villain to ever return to play a different villain on the show later. This time around, she portrays Egghead’s main squeeze Olga, Queen of the Cossacks. The showy villainess mostly sits back while Egghead and his henchmen take care of business, but she’s a memorable character nonetheless. 31. LORD MARMADUKE FFOGG (RUDY VALLEE) SEASON 3 (EPISODES 11, 12, 13) The coolest thing about Lord Marmaduke Ffogg (who appears in three episodes as the co-villain alongside his sister Lady Penelope Peasoup) is easily his Pipe of Fog. All the venerable lord has to do is light that thing up and the room starts filling with a white, puffy smoke—perfect to conceal his getaway.

Played by Rudy Vallee, the villain also wore a special cast on his foot to make people think he had the gout and was, therefore, incapable of pulling off his crimes. Clever man. 32. LADY PENELOPE PEASOUP (GLYNIS JOHNS) SEASON 3 (EPISODES 11, 12, 13) Though Lord Marmaduke Ffogg appears to be the main villain in this three-episode arc, his sister Lady Penelope Peasoup actually comes across as more interesting and charismatic. Despite being relegated to mostly taking charge of the female criminals in their charge, Lady Penelope (played by Glynis Johns) makes her mark on the series. 33. NORA CLAVICLE (BARBARA RUSH) SEASON 3 (EPISODE 19) It’s almost a shame that someone as talented as Barbara Rush (It Came from Outer Space) was saddled with another of Batman’s least memorable villains.

In her one appearance on the show, Nora Clavicle uses her wits and charm to convince Mayor Linseed to give her the Commissioner job, which is all part of a devious plan to destroy Gotham City and collect on an insurance claim. How does she plan to do it, though? With mechanical mice. Since she replaced the police force with housewives, they’re all afraid of mice. Pretty sexist, right? Ahh, those crazy 1960s. 34. CALAMITY JAN (DINA MERRILL) SEASON 3 (EPISODES 21, 22) It’s a shame that Batman doesn’t really let Dina Merrill’s Calamity Jan be much more than arm candy for their western spoof villain Shame, but at least the actress does the best she can with the material she’s got. Calamity Jan comes across as adorable and silly, but just smart enough to probably be able to ditch Shame and bring Batman and Robin to their knees. Sadly, we’ll never know if that’s true since she’s mostly playing second fiddle to Cliff Roberston’s Shame. 35. DR.

CASSANDRA SPELLCRAFT (IDA LUPINO) SEASON 3 (EPISODE 25) Ida Lupino helped pave the way for female directors of our time, so it should come as no surprise that she’s very much the leading power in the villainous duo that headlines Batman’s penultimate episode. Dr. Cassandra Spellcraft comes from a long line of female alchemists, but she’s determined to be the only successful one. So she uses her power to bring down the Bat. Or tries, at least. She’s a bright, colorful character in many ways, but the way she puts her silly husband Cabala in his place is the very best thing about her. 36. CABALA (HOWARD DUFF) SEASON 3 (EPISODE 25) After a few episodes that feature female villains mostly relegated to storylines dominated by male power (Nora Clavicle and Calamity Jan), it’s great to see one where the man completely and utterly does anything he can to make his wife happy, right? Played by Howard Duff, Cabala is less a villain and more a sidekick to Dr. Cassandra Spellcraft.

He’ll do anything to please her, calls her “Doccy Baby,” and can often be caught checking himself out in the mirror rather than plotting villainous schemes. 37. MINERVA (ZSA ZSA GABOR) SEASON 3 (EPISODE 26) Batman’s final villain is also one of its most glamorous. Played by Zsa Zsa Gabor, Minerva opens a health spa in Gotham City and uses her Deepest Secret Extractor to run amok. She’s pulling off robberies left and right, and even Alfred gets involved going undercover to help The Dynamic Duo. What makes Minerva so memorable, however, is the star power of Gabor. Sure, she’s mostly just saying “Darlings…” a lot, but her appearance as the platinum-dressed villainess will likely never be forgotten. Alfred vs The Joker - YouTube Alfred vs The Joker Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later.

Uploaded on Jun 7, 2010 Alfred Pennyworth (Alan Napier) takes on the Joker himself (Cesar Romero), in one of my favorite moments from the '60s Batman TV series - specificially, season 2's "Flop Goes The Joker". Category

Question: In the TV series 'Batman', who played the part of 'The Joker'?
Answer: CAESAR ROMERO